Infections in the management of rheumatic diseases: An update

Abstract

Patients with inflammatory rheumatic conditions have an increased risk of infection. While this could be the result of the underlying
disease, it may also be caused by the use of immunosuppressive therapies, which are needed to treat these disorders. An increasing number
of patients with rheumatoid arthritis or other rheumatic diseases are using biologic therapies (biologics) in addition to the synthetic diseasemodifying
anti-rheumatic drugs. The side-effects and complications of these relatively new agents are unknown to many specialists (outside
of rheumatology) and general practitioners. This article highlights updates on the most important infections encountered in the daily
management of patients with rheumatic diseases and discusses how these may be prevented.